Washington, December 7 (ANI): The White House on Saturday signaled renewed momentum for its immigration agenda, linking tougher employment-related rules to its broader “America First” policy. A post on X stated that “President Trump is cracking down on work permits and tightening the vetting process,” as the administration rolled out additional screening measures.
New guidance expands vetting for H-1B visa holders and their H-4 dependents and extends social media scrutiny to other nonimmigrant applicants. Beginning December 15, consular officers will require H-1B and H-4 applicants, along with F, M and J visa applicants, to make all social media profiles public so online activity can be reviewed as part of visa adjudication.
The State Department stressed that a visa is a privilege, not a right, and described each visa decision as a national security determination. Officials said they will consider all available information to evaluate admissibility and potential security risks, stating the United States must remain vigilant to prevent harm.
The policy change has prompted concern among Indian nationals, who represent a large share of H-1B workers in the United States. It follows other Trump-era measures affecting the H-1B program, including a September proclamation that imposed a one-time USD 100,000 fee on new H-1B applications, a move expected to particularly impact Indian professionals.
Separately, U.S. authorities have temporarily suspended processing of Green Card, naturalization and certain other immigration applications for nationals from 19 “countries of concern” after a shooting in Washington, D.C. A USCIS memo instructed officials to put all asylum claims on hold pending a review following the incident.
The shooting killed U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically injured U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Lakanwal, reportedly entered the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, the resettlement program for Afghan arrivals after the 2021 Taliban takeover.
(This report is based on a syndicated feed from ANI and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
